Egypt's top religious authority condemns Islamic State

CAIRO - Egypt's top religious authority condemned the armed group Islamic State which has taken over parts of Iraq and Syria, describing it as a corrupt, extremist organisation that is damaging Islam.

"An extremist and bloody group such as this poses a danger to Islam and Muslims, tarnishing its image as well as shedding blood and spreading corruption," said Grand Mufti Shawqi Allam, Egypt's most influential Muslim cleric, the state news agency MENA reported on Tuesday.